Stock-releasing device.



E. DEATRICK.

STOCK RELEASING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-27. I918 1,290, 1 1 O. Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

EDWARD DEATBICK, OF LANCE-BI, FENNSYLVANIA.

sroox-nnnnesme :onvion.

Specification of Letter-a Patent.

Patented J an. t, 1219.

Application filed March 27, 191 8. 3 Serial No. 225,120.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD Dne'rnrox, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stock-Releasing Devices, of which the followin is a specification, reference being had to t e accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to automatic stock releasing devices wherein the releasing element is controlled by an electric magnet and the primary object of my invention is to provide a releasing device of this character with its. elements so constructed that the locking mechanism automaticall falls open in case of a fire within the building wherein this device is employed for the purpose or" securin stock or animals of any kind.

Anot er object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which can also be readily opened at the will of the operator by merely pressing an electric push button. Other objects will appear in the course of this specification.

I attain the aforesaid objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure I is a plan view of the entire stock releasing mechanism as it appears after the removal of the cap plate 1; Fig. H is a sectional side elevation showing part of the inclosing casin broken away, the chain and tube elements eing omitted from this view; Fig. HT is a sectional end elevation of the device taken on the line 3-3 in Fig-ell.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring more articularly to the drawings, the locking e ements of my invention are carried in a casing made up of the cap plate 1, and the base plate 2. These two portions 1 and 2 are hollowed interiorly so as to conceal and protect the working elementsof my invention which will be hereinafter described. The base plate 2 is provided with an integrally formed eye 20 adapted to receive the end link 22 of the lock chain 33. This base plate 2 is also formed ,With a channel way 6 adapted to receive the sliding bolt 5, said bolt being formed at its inner extremity with a suitable lock-lip 23 adapted to co-act with an oppositely disposed lip 24 formed on the adjacent side of the finger 3. This finger 3 is journaled at its ends and near its under side in suitable bearings Y25 and 26, so as to afiord said finger and its lip 24 asuitable rocking motion back and forth, into and out of engagement with the locklip 23. A. small coil spring 4 normally holds said finger 3 into a position thrown forward,-

so that the lip 24 is held in engagement with the lock-lip 23 when the sliding bolt 5 is thrust into position. The sliding bolt 5 is provided at its outer extremity with the eye 21 to engage the opposite end link 27 of the lock chain 33. A spring '7 is spread between the pins 15, lGand 17, and so disposed as to normally hold the lock-lip 23 in snug position against the opposite lip 24, and so as to also give the sliding bolt 5 an outward impetus upon the releasing of the same. Mounted oppositely to the said finger 3 is disposed the electromagnet 8 in suitable spaced relation with the finger '3. The current carrying wires 9 and 10 of this magnet are protected by the flexible tube 11 after they emerge from the casing. This flexible tube 11 is held in snug position at the point where it enters the casing by means of a clamp cap 13-13, which is made in two portions represented by 13 and 13 and adapted to crowd the tube 11 at the point where it enters the casing. This clamp 13-13 is provided with an eye 28 adapted to receive the. end link 29 of the anchor chain 32. The elements 13 and 13" are locked together by means'of a set screw it. Clamps 12 hold the tube 11 in alinement with the anchor chain 32.

Any suitable means may be provided for securing the lock chain about the neck of the animal, as for. instance, a swivel pin 30 and ring 31, which is an ordinary form ot' tastening, 7

One onmore push buttons as represented at 34:, and one or more soft fuses as represented at 35, are provided as required to cooperate with the mechanism above described,

- located in the building that upon a fire being started within the building, said fuses will be most quickly acted upon by the heat generated by said fire.

' In operation, one of these stock releasing devices is provided for each animal secured within the building, and these devices may be ranged along a manger. The anchor chain 32 is secured to the floor or to the manger. The current wires 9 and 10 are extended and placed in circuit with any suitable electrical source, the soft fuses and push buttons being incorporated within the system as required and as above described. The lock chain 33 is thrown around the neck of the animal and fastened. The sliding bolt 5 is then thrust into the locking mechanism whereupon the lock-lip 23 engages with the lip 24 of the finger 3, and the animal is thereby secured. If the keeper desires to release the animal through the operation of this releasing device, all he has to do is to press one of the push buttons adjacent to a door or other point of entrance to the building; or the same result is effected through one of the soft fuses above described being acted upon by heat. Either of these contingencies will sufiice to close the electric circuit, and to throw a current through the magnet 8, thereby energizing the same; whereupon the finger 3 is drawn toward the magnet 8, thereby drawing the lip 24 out of engagement with the lock-lip 23, and a1low ing the sliding bolt 5 to fall out of the casing by which operation the animal is automatically released.

While I have herein described a certain specific manner and method of constructing and assembling the elements of my said invention, it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor details, not departing from the spirit of my invention, so as best to construct the same to meet all practical requirements. I

What I claim to be newand patentable is:

A stock releasing device, comprising a lock made up of a casing carrying a projectlng, sliding bolt, bearing an interior locklip, a rocking finger bearing a lip to co-act with the lock-lip in the sliding bolt, a spring to normally hold the said lips in locked relation, and an electromagnet adapted to disengage the said lips when energized; current Wires connected to said magnet and located in a normally open electric circuit; a plurality of push buttons and soft fuses located in said circuit, the first adapted to close the circuit at will, the second to close the circuit under the action of heat: an anchor chain attached to the lock casing; and a tie chain 

